I need a lens board for the Trioptar Lens/Century Shutter I just acquired for my Century Graphic, but has the world gone totally bonkers? $88.00 for one? http://cgi.ebay.com/Graflex-2x3-Century-Graflex-lens-board-HardToFind_W0QQitemZ290211779938QQihZ019QQcategoryZ15247QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I think I'll get my machinist son to tool up for these and go into production!!!

Yea, that seller always lists everything in the stratosphere, sad part is there are some ??????? that pay those prices.

Holy c**p! I have a lens board for a 4 x 5 I'd sell anyone here for half that. I won't mention any of the places you can get these for under $20.

Dave

www.mpex.com sold blank boards for $29 until recently. The last time I visite their site I couldn't find 'em, but its worth asking.

www.skgrimes.com sells blank boards for around the same price, also drills to order.

hurdy_gurdyman wrote:

Holy c**p! I have a lens board for a 4 x 5 I'd sell anyone here for half that. I won't mention any of the places you can get these for under $20. Dave

That board is for 2 x 3 Pacemakers not 4 x 5 cameras. Still the price is way too high!

C. Henry

$88.00 and the hole is too big. Anyway, I may be dumb, but I'm not stupid. The hole is too big anyway. The little Trioptar is more in the order of 7/8". I had already checked at Midwest and S.K...and searched the web.
Just one of those deals. I've had several boards but down to none. I think I'll go to the hobby shop...buy some wood...and make one. Thanks. Fred.

I think Mpex was getting their board from Fred, and while I can't confirm it, I think Fred is now conversing with William Folmer and George Eastman, eye to eye.

Les, you may be right about Fred's condition. But when I asked him about boards some years ago, he said that he bought them.

Les wrote:

I think Mpex was getting their board from Fred, and while I can't confirm it, I think Fred is now conversing with William Folmer and George Eastman, eye to eye.

No doubt several of the forum users are wondering whether Fred could be called back, since Century Graphic lensboards are in short supply.

Thinking better of it,

Pax te cum.

RJ

hell at that price I'd just make my own. They are simple enough in design, if you dont mind working with inauthentic equipment.

Yeah, me too. Any suggestions on how to fabricate the lip? I suppose it's possible to cut a piece of sheet brass to shape and solder
a brass strip around the perimeter. The trickiest part might be figuring a way to clamp the pieces while you solder. Sounds like a trip to
the hobby shop is in order.

Henry wrote:

Yeah, me too. Any suggestions on how to fabricate the lip? I suppose it's possible to cut a piece of sheet brass to shape and solder a brass strip around the perimeter. The trickiest part might be figuring a way to clamp the pieces while you solder. Sounds like a trip to the hobby shop is in order.

Henry, you might ask Glenn Thoreson how he made his. AFAIK, he made a wooden mandrel, beat sheet metal over it, and trimmed the edges.

Let's not panic about this! Last time I looked (Monday afternoon this week) S. K. Grimes was still listing Graflex lens boards in sizes to fit both 2x3 & the larger size post WW2 Graflex cameras as "stock items"!
As 45PSS stated that particular seller has a habit of listing items at extremely high prices. I am watching it on eBay and doubt that he will get even one bid.

C. Henry

I have made boards for 4x5 pacemakers and instead of forming a lip I routed them flush to the edge as wood and acrylic chiped off flush when trying to route the lip. I found that the boards are light tight without it when they sit flush and the center of the board just fits into the bellows opening. If forming from metal then I would make the lip.

Begging your pardon. gentlemen. When I searched SK Grimes' site a while back, I could not find the "Baby Graphic Lens Board"...but after seeing C Henry's post, I looked again...and voila!!...there it is. Thank you. Fred.